June 10, 2008

June 09, 2008

Here's yet another thing I like about Germany--you start out your day franticly running-around, trying to get crap done before it's time to head back to the States, and end it sitting at the top of a mountain, in a castle, drinking a tall, cold beer.

Wouldn't it be so much easier to get up and get going in the morning, knowing at the end of each day you would end up sitting in this very spot, at an old wooden table in a nearby castle, with a beer in hand?

Answer: Jawohl. (A hearty yes.)

Today Mr. Lush stayed home from work. He's actually taking the whole week off so that we (he and I) can spend some time together, before I leave for the US with the kids this coming weekend. While I'm über-excited about seeing my family soon and spending time with everyone, I'm sad to be saying good-bye for two months to Mr. Lush. I will miss him terribly...

Who else will I be able to start arguments with over trivial, inconsequential things? Who else will I be able to whine and plead with for backrubs every night? Who else will listen to me complain about how tight my pants are getting, while accidentally spitting bits of food across the table, as I finish shoving pastry #3 down my cakehole? Who else can I call at the end of a long workday, to ask if he'll pick up more wine/beer/gin on the way home? WHO? Nobody, that's who.

Yes, I'm afraid he'll feel my absence like a missing limb.

He'll be absolutely devestated when I'm gone.

But before this absolute devestation, Mr. Lush will be home and we'll be spending time together. Only let's get this straight--we'll be spending time together doing a lot of crappy run-around stuff--no fun stuff. It's the last week of school for the kids, so we'll be running back and forth to awards assemblies and classroom activities, between the Intermediate School for the 5th grade Miss Lush, and the Middle School for the 7th grade Master Lush. The dog will be going to get groomed tomorrow (photos to come) and going to get his health certificate from the vet on Wednesday. Master Lush will be going to the dentist on Wednesday afternoon, to get his first cavity filled. Then there's the laundry to get done, suitcases to pack and house to organize before we go. It's going to be kooky-krazy here. So any additional "fun" will be sporadic and accidental.

Today's fun acitivity was attempting to renew our European driver's licenses. We spent from 9AM till 2:30PM on this one mission. Back and forth we drove, waiting for the photo store to open at 10AM to get our pictures taken--then waiting another 30 minutes for them to be developed. (My photo was HORRIBLE, by the way, I looked like a pale, bloated version of my former self. Frau Müller and the gallons of beer I've been drinking over the last year have done unspeakable damage. And also? The woman (Hoor) who took the photo never said when she was taking it--no countdown--no warning--just SNAP! And then...there it was: a slightly confused and surprised look on my bloated, pale face--like Tex when he wakes up suddenly from a nap. Oh, the horror...)

Once the photos from hell were developed, we had to take them, and other key documents to get signed and stamped across town. The fun part was being told once we got there, we were at the wrong place (even though the website on the Internet clearly told us to go there. hahahahahahahahaha.) We drove from one office to the next, waiting in lines and then waiting for the people "helping" us to get-off-the-damn-phone-because-we-were-here-first-and-whoever-that-is-can-damn-well-call-back-later-and-I-ain't-playin'-hoor-cause-I'm-about-to-choke-a-bitch.

By the time we were ready to actually go and get our licenses, we were both tired and grumpy. We had to drive to Kusel, a nearby city about 20 minutes away, and find our way to the Kreisverwaltung, the office where they issue driving liscenses. Only--guess what? Everything--and I mean everything--closes betwen 12PM and 2PM in Germany--All stores, public offices, businesses, etc. So, we ended up killing time exploring Kusel for a while--and accidentally discovered some wonderful places.

We walked around for a while, and saw some really great houses:

I liked the starburst on top of the roof of this one:

I also saw a Smart Car, which I've been meaning to photograph for a while now:

Americans have their giant SUVs, Europeans have their miniscule Smart Cars. (You can't say you've really experienced the Autobahn in Germany, until a Smart Car passes you doing 110mph.)

After we finally managed to get our driver's liscences, we drove through Kusel a little more and stumbled upon a sign for Lichtenburg, a nearby castle. And, that's how we ended up seeing this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

Once we explored the castle, we were forced (by German law) to go down to the outdoor cafe and order two beers. (It is required by law to drink at least one beer when visiting any castle in Germany.) So, at the end of a long day, Mr. Lush and I sat together in the shade of a giant Copper Beech, and stared into one another's eyes. Then I took a long draught from my beer. Good times.

June 07, 2008

Today Mr. Lush and I woke up early and headed out to our favorite flea market, in nearby Homburg. The weather was looking a little questionable when we looked out the window this morning. Last night's rain had passed, but there were still dark clouds hanging around, looking rather menacing. The thought of missing our flea market day had me quite aggitated and worried all last night. I was wringing my hands like a little, old woman, and pacing around the house muttering to myself, while occasionally adjusting my girdle. We bundled up in warm jackets before we left this morning, and I brought along two umbrellas just in case.

The flea market itself was shrowded in fog when we arrived, but looked active and busy--though not as bustling a place as it was last month. We walked around for a long time, not really finding much of anything. Mr. Lush shook his head after a while and told me I was, "off my game." Well, that's all it took. Nobody--and I mean nobody--questions my flea market skills.

NOBODY DISRESPECTS THE FLEA MARKET QUEEN.

After a swift sucker punch to Mr. Lush's gut, we continued on our way, and I re-doubled my effort to spend money.

I ended up finding a few things here and there--though nothing spectacular. I bought these two old metal wire baskets, which I'm not sure yet how I'm going to use. I may put my magazines and books in them, or something else entirely. I don't think you can ever have too many storage options, though.

I also got a couple more of these:

Because lord knows I need more enamel house numbers. (However, I am planning on bringing a few with me this summer to give as gifts...)

I bought some linens today as well:

This is a beautiful hand-embroidered table cloth I loved. It's actually quite large--I have it folded here.

I also found other redwork pieces to use for crafts and sewing projects:

Here's a close up of the embroidery:

This one was very delicate-looking:

I liked this little floral pillow case, too:

Of course, the usual suspects were there today, too:

I saw a certain someone looking a little worse for wear:

Someone needs to let Badger know her relatives are not faring very well in Germany.

And that's all for flea market day. Tonight we're having friends over for a cook-out. I've got about 12 million things to do in the next few hours. Because getting things done ahead of time is for wimps.

June 04, 2008

The cool, cloudy day we had yesterday, transformed into a spectacularly sunny evening. As the sun began to set, it suddenly broke through the clouds, and laid a blanket of warm sunlight on the village.

Having spent the day inside, quietly working with my hands, I couldn't resist going for a late evening walk. I left my furry friend at home this time, though. I needed some time to myself.

I did meet up with friends along the way...

Some were more shy than others...

I couldn't blame him for running away. I was being quite a chatterbox.

These guys always have something to say to me when I pass:

They're quite loud, and tend to show off when I'm around.

I would've liked to have spoken with this feathered fellow, but the great fuss the geese were causing scared him away.

I would've told him about an old friend of mine from childhood. A relative of his, perhaps...

Ah, well. Another time, I suppose.

This post is dedicated to Eleanor, whose generosity feels like the warmth of an evening sunset.

June 03, 2008

Today's been rather cool, overcast and breezy here in Germany, after a night of heavy rains. Once I got the kids out the door to school this morning, I pulled on a pair of jeans and slipped into my fleece jacket, ready for the morning walk with the hound.

It was much chillier outside than I had expected. I felt a wee bit neglectful for having sent the kids off to school in short-sleeves with no jacket. Oops. Sorry kids. Just remember to keep moving, and you'll stay warm. Jumping jacks! Jumping jacks!

They'll survive, I suppose.

Our walk was rather short and uninspired. Tex was even slower than usual today, maddeningly stopping and turning around, to make sure the coast was clear behind us. Momentarily satisfied no danger was currently sneaking up to attack us from the rear, we could move forward another few feet. We were safe. For now.

Once we got home, we both ate our breakfasts, and I picked up my book and read for awhile. When Mr. Lush called a couple of hours later, he noted my "sleepy voice" and wondered if he'd just woken me up.

What? How DARE you, Mr. Lush, insinuate that I would be back in BED! HOW DARE YOU, GOOD SIR!

I vehemently denied any such thing. And, informed him he was only half-right about me still being in my pajamas. (I was still wearing my pajama top under my fleece jacket...It's all about efficiency, you see. That way I'm only a pair of pajama bottoms away from a nap, at any given moment.)

Actually, he had awoken me. But don't tell him I told you that. Somehow, I'd managed to end up back upstairs--snuggled under the covers in the bed, like a field mouse burrowing down in his nest. Cool, dark mornings just do that to me. It's involuntary.

After Mr. Lush's call, I got up and decided today was the perfect day to stay inside, without any guilt, and work on one of my long-neglected hobbies. This long-neglected hobby happens to be my beading--although I think it sounds much more distinguished to say my jewelry-making.

Yes, my jewelry-making. I am in the business of jewels and gemstones. Let me show you around my jewelry store...

Here's one of my necklaces:

I made this last summer, when my sister, B, infected me with her terrible addiction to beading, after giving a necklace-making class to my mother and me (my other two sisters are decidedly and unashamedly anti-craft.) Curse you, B! I spent gobs of money on beading supplies and pretty beads, at her wonderful local bead stores...all in the name of staying sane, once I got to Germany.

You see, when we first arrived here last summer, it was very overwhelming. We'd just sold our house in Texas in the spring, and divided our stuff between storage, and what was to come with us. I'd driven both kids across country, to their summer camps on the east coast. Then, we'd spent some time with my family, and then flown out for a week to spend time with Mr. Lush's family. By the time we got on the plane to fly to Frankfurt, we were completely exhausted.

Once we finally arrived in Germany, there was little time for rest. There was so much to do. We had to get our European driver's licenses (a huge, involved written test,) buy two new cars, learn our way around (while trying to find a house,) get the kids settled-in to their schools, live in a hotel for a month, then live in an empty house for another month--all while living out of suitcases, and waiting for our stuff to arrive. Add to that the long days spent using my German to talk to our landlord, reading over bills, and asking for help finding crap in every damn store in Germany, and well--you get the picture.

I was just spent at the end of every day. Beading helped me to relax in the evenings, and forget about the stressful to-do lists, which kept us running all over the place on those long, long days.

So, I made lots of stuff. Like this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

And this one I wore yesterday, in my 1940s housewife pose:

I have other necklaces, which I've bought from professional jewelry crafters. It's funny, because until B started getting all kooky-krazy with her necklaces, I never really wore jewelry very often. Now I feel a little under-dressed without something around my neck.

This one, I bought from a jeweler friend of B's, drives me a little crazy. I'm always trying to fix the stones, so that they lie flat...grrrrrr.

Then there's this one, which B gave me for my birthday last year...it's stunning:

There's this one, which I love to wear in the summer, because it reminds me of the beach:

And this one, Mr. Lush got me for Christmas a couple of years ago:

I love this one, which is made of Moonstone and is so simple. It picks up whatever color you're wearing:

But if you want to know my absolute, most favorite necklace EVER, I will show you in just a sec. It's a necklace made for me by my super-fresh-diggity-dog-jam-master-sistah-friend, B.

First, I will show you the repairs I made to it this morning.

One of the strands had broken, when my purse strap--holding my giant 1,000 lb. purse, pulled on it. I used silk cording, and re-tied the stones, attaching them to the clasps again.

And, VOILA! I give you the most gorgeous necklace EVER MADE! It's made of Labradorite (with matching earrings, of course.)

HERE'S A SHOUT OUT TO MY GIRL, B!

I plan on wearing this gorgeous number on my return trip to the States, when I leave a week from Saturday.

And THOSE are my necklaces. Isn't show-n-tell fun? Tune-in tomorrow for my athletic sock show-n-tell. Then Thursday, for my clothes hangers...and Friday for my tupperware!!! THE FUN JUST NEVER STOPS IN GERMANY!!!

June 02, 2008

Thanks to Anna in Sweden for her recent post showing-off her lovely vintage apron.

Here is MY vintage apron:

I bought it last summer at a small antique store in Annapolis, Maryland--where it called out to me, and refused to let me leave without buying it. I fell in love with the simplicity of this apron--a muslin sheath, with hand-embroidered pansies.

Everything about it was perfect. In my imagination, I could see the 1940s housewife, hard at work in her kitchen, with her handmade apron on over her dress. Can you see her rolling out a pie crust, with her hair pulled back, some bright red lipstick on, and a touch of flour at the end of her nose?

Here's my 1940s housewife modeling pose:

Tex is playing the part of the 1940s house pet.

I have a couple of other aprons I've purchased over the last year or so. My favorite place to find cool, retro aprons is Anthropologie. I could buy every apron in the store, and it still wouldn't be enough.

I think I really love this one because of the red and white-speckled mushrooms. When I was little, we had salt and pepper shakers that looked like this:

A few years ago, I begged my mom to give them to me, when I found them in the back of a cupboard in her kitchen.

She did!

This apron really belongs to Mr. Lush, who is a wonderful cook. (Though, he doesn't actually wear quite it like this...)

He makes some incredible gourmet Mexican dishes. For a short time a few years ago, I thought he had a thing on the side with Rick Bayless.